Boston must be very cold now.
I asked about you because I missed you a little here.
I have read the Koran and made quotations from it.
I know the truth and that truth has set me free.

Light shines in darkness ad darkness cannot comprehend it and Jesus is that light.
His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Jesus says 'I am the way,the truth and the life,no one comes to the father but by me"
He also says,I am the resurrection and the life.

Again The scriptures  says" for by grace are you saved through faith,not of yourselves,not of works lest any man should boast,it is the gift of God"

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begoten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Think on those words Olabowole and may the King of glory reveal himsel to you.
Amen.

Dear Orikinla,
I have carefully gone through all the postings in this thread and I have not seen how they met with your stated purpose. One thing is sure however, it did succeed in creating controversy in a ‘me vs you’ way. But then as Christians, is this what the Lord called us to do? Hebrews 12:14; Rom 12:17, 18; don't you think we should just limit ourselves to preaching the gospel of peace and leave the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Condemnations, bickering, fault finding, accusations, especially of people of other faiths do not glorify the risen Lord and Saviour.

Have we lost our savour as the salt of the earth? Where is the grace expected of us in the use of our tongues - Proverbs 15:1 – 4. If the Lord found Himself in our world, how would He react to abuses, mis-information, etc from people of other faiths? Counter 'strikes' and vitriolic defenses of Himself? Matt 5: 43 - 48 is particularly instructive. Does a thread like this make for peace? Please read James 3: 9 – 18; 1Peter 4:12 – 19.

To be sure, persecutions of Christians are not from Muslims alone. Even Buddhists in India are persecuting Christian missionaries in that place. Perhaps it will surprise you that there are 'Christian' societies and churches that encourage ungodly practices like adultery, homosexuality, etc and still persecute the brethren. In my village, we’ve had instances where families violently assault their kin who attend a Christian denomination aside of theirs. And they quote (albeit wrongly) scriptures to justify their actions - what are we going to say about such people? Do we declare the Bible wrong and fake because of these people? I have also known Muslims whose comportment and character are exemplary and put some Christians' conduct to question.

When are we going to quit this attitude of debate in trying to make a point or proving that we are of superior specie? Don't you detect a trace of pride and guile in this our approach? Also, strident and vitriolic ‘defenses’ of our faith may have the tendency of driving away souls from the saving grace of Jesus Christ whose desire is that ALL should come unto Him. All because they find our attitude/reactions repulsive and repugnant.1 Corinth.9: 19 – 27. Mukina2 had cause to decry the use of our language and manner in an earlier thread in this forum.

We should not base our opinions of others on fear, hatred, or prejudice, but on fact. Muslim terrorists have done some terrible things, but that does not make all Muslims terrorists. Many Muslims reject terrorism and simply want to live a peaceful, productive life. Likewise, some people in countries with Christian roots have peddled pornography, encourage skimpy clothes (especially among our womenfolk), but that does not mean all Christians want to corrupt the world. Bible-believing Christians want to live at peace with all people and to show love to all, following in the footsteps of Jesus. Muslims and Christians alike have in common the fact that both are human.

I make no secret of where I stand. I believe in Jesus as one with God. I trust that Jesus died to pay for my sins. I am confident that His resurrection guarantees eternal life for me. I depend on the Holy Spirit living in me. I make no claim to being superior to anybody, but remain eternally grateful for the blood of the Lamb that bought me who was once a vile and vain offender. Apart from evangelism/preaching, I also endeavour (by my life and words and through prayer) to share and encourage people to come and partake of the graces of my Lord Jesus Christ - while remembering my background and avoiding perverse disputations, 1 Tim 6: 3 – 5.

I indeed recognise that there are differences between Christianity and Islam. I'm also eager for Christians and Muslims to get along better, but let's do
this by being honest about our differences, even as we take note of significant similarities i.e. Muslims and Christians are people. We are humans with God-given value. We are not animals, and we shouldn’t treat each other as animals. We are not demons, and we shouldn’t treat each other as demons. We are human, and we should treat each other as humans. Whether Christian or Muslim or something else, each of us wants to be treated with fairness and respect, so we should treat others with fairness and respect.

Please I do not use this post to question your Christianity - far be it; I do not consider myself worthy to do that. I just post this in the hope that we can come back to being at peace with our neighbours, either on the net or anywhere else and remember our responsibility of ensuring we remain faithful ambassadors of Jesus Christ in this challenging period of our life. I trust you will see it that way too. Acts 24:16.

God bless you good.

I actually left this thread because of the ill wind and "semi-hatred" it was creating. Am only writing in this thread because when you hear a person of peace talk and someone who has taken time to welcome all people, no matter what faith theY belong to, it comforts the heart and makes you know that the world is not such a bad place after all.

Feelgood

I read your post and it has actually warmed my heart and made my day. The bickering and superiority talk about one religion being the way to Paradise must stop. As you said there are bad Muslims and Christians. There are good Muslims and Christians. I am a Muslim and I detest anything that involves hatred due to religious beliefs. As quoted in the Quran:

The Cow 2:62:"Believers, Jews, Christians and Sabaeans – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does what is right – shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear or to regret.

So what are we on about. Yes we have our differences in how we think Paradise is going to be attained. But is it through acrimony and harsh words and evil deeds, that we'll attain eternity with the Lord?

I just want US all to live together in happiness. That to me is worth more than the religiousness we all speak about.

I rest my case and I thank feelgood again for his Post.

GOD BE WITH US ALL.

feelgood:

Dear Orikinla,
I have carefully gone through all the postings in this thread and I have not seen how they met with your stated purpose. One thing is sure however, it did succeed in creating controversy in a ‘me vs you’ way. But then as Christians, is this what the Lord called us to do? Hebrews 12:14; Rom 12:17, 18; don't you think we should just limit ourselves to preaching the gospel of peace and leave the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Condemnations, bickering, fault finding, accusations, especially of people of other faiths do not glorify the risen Lord and Saviour.

Have we lost our savour as the salt of the earth? Where is the grace expected of us in the use of our tongues - Proverbs 15:1 – 4. If the Lord found Himself in our world, how would He react to abuses, mis-information, etc from people of other faiths? Counter 'strikes' and vitriolic defenses of Himself? Matt 5: 43 - 48 is particularly instructive. Does a thread like this make for peace? Please read James 3: 9 – 18; 1Peter 4:12 – 19.

To be sure, persecutions of Christians are not from Muslims alone. Even Buddhists in India are persecuting Christian missionaries in that place. Perhaps it will surprise you that there are 'Christian' societies and churches that encourage ungodly practices like adultery, homosexuality, etc and still persecute the brethren. In my village, we’ve had instances where families violently assault their kin who attend a Christian denomination aside of theirs. And they quote (albeit wrongly) scriptures to justify their actions - what are we going to say about such people? Do we declare the Bible wrong and fake because of these people? I have also known Muslims whose comportment and character are exemplary and put some Christians' conduct to question.

When are we going to quit this attitude of debate in trying to make a point or proving that we are of superior specie? Don't you detect a trace of pride and guile in this our approach? Also, strident and vitriolic ‘defenses’ of our faith may have the tendency of driving away souls from the saving grace of Jesus Christ whose desire is that ALL should come unto Him. All because they find our attitude/reactions repulsive and repugnant.1 Corinth.9: 19 – 27. Mukina2 had cause to decry the use of our language and manner in an earlier thread in this forum.

We should not base our opinions of others on fear, hatred, or prejudice, but on fact. Muslim terrorists have done some terrible things, but that does not make all Muslims terrorists. Many Muslims reject terrorism and simply want to live a peaceful, productive life. Likewise, some people in countries with Christian roots have peddled pornography, encourage skimpy clothes (especially among our womenfolk), but that does not mean all Christians want to corrupt the world. Bible-believing Christians want to live at peace with all people and to show love to all, following in the footsteps of Jesus. Muslims and Christians alike have in common the fact that both are human.

I make no secret of where I stand. I believe in Jesus as one with God. I trust that Jesus died to pay for my sins. I am confident that His resurrection guarantees eternal life for me. I depend on the Holy Spirit living in me. I make no claim to being superior to anybody, but remain eternally grateful for the blood of the Lamb that bought me who was once a vile and vain offender. Apart from evangelism/preaching, I also endeavour (by my life and words and through prayer) to share and encourage people to come and partake of the graces of my Lord Jesus Christ - while remembering my background and avoiding perverse disputations, 1 Tim 6: 3 – 5.

I indeed recognise that there are differences between Christianity and Islam. I'm also eager for Christians and Muslims to get along better, but let's do
this by being honest about our differences, even as we take note of significant similarities i.e. Muslims and Christians are people. We are humans with God-given value. We are not animals, and we shouldn’t treat each other as animals. We are not demons, and we shouldn’t treat each other as demons. We are human, and we should treat each other as humans. Whether Christian or Muslim or something else, each of us wants to be treated with fairness and respect, so we should treat others with fairness and respect.

Please I do not use this post to question your Christianity - far be it; I do not consider myself worthy to do that. I just post this in the hope that we can come back to being at peace with our neighbours, either on the net or anywhere else and remember our responsibility of ensuring we remain faithful ambassadors of Jesus Christ in this challenging period of our life. I trust you will see it that way too. Acts 24:16.

God bless you good.

Feelgood,
No.
Please, don't take any of our honest to God freedom of speech as hate speech.
We are all free to express ourselves.

God forbid, I cannot hate even Osama bin Laden.
If I come across him now, I will only embrace him and break down asking, "Why? Why? Why? Do we have to attack and kill innocent people?"

Talking is better than fighting.

God help us all.

orikinla was born to love

We have the same in the UK. Muslim people that we have welcomed to our shores, given them jobs, homes, money and schooling.

How do they repay the society that helped them. They murder them is cold blood!

Islam is a false religion and one that condones murder and torture!

Islam is the anti-christ and you should all be aware of it!

@Reverend: Are you married? If not, you should as soon as you can. This should calm you down. By the way you should marry an African woman, with all this energy, she will handle you quite well, since you can not marry more than 1, as a christian, being restricted by law and rule of mare mortal.

If Dajjal comes, you will know that it is not a muslim or does he belong to Islam. We make supplication in Salah to Allah against Anti-Christ's trial, influence or followership. How is that possible that Muslim or Islam is this antichrist? Please let us be serious here!

The West, since its rise to eminence and power on the World stage has taken and continues to take advantage of Muslims, non Muslims and other people who are not 'lilly white or its surrogates'. Even though I disagree and unhappy with Muslim leadership and the irrationality of the angry masses, you take a look at the wholesale killing being visited on the Muslims all over the world! When is this killing going to be too much and becomes evil? Until you have a complete generation dead? There are even contractors in this fight now, killing indiscriminately without control and rule of nation to guide them. They all have immunity! Wow. Saddam Hussein and his cohorts are evil. Do you have to match them in brutality or even worse?

@Orikinla: Nna, Kedu? What happened to you? I asked about your Uncle, my brother in Islam, you conveniently ignored me. The Yorubas say 'Ara eniyan ni rere wa'. Are you concern that he and me will be friendly and that is too much for you to swallow? Babyosisi says that you are a lover, always. But she is qualifying it that it is SEX alone that exites you. Unfortunately, the fornication with Muslim women is your specialty. You should marry and stop all of that nonsense! Thats just silly when grown people do it as boyfriend/girlfriend ting! Then you are fighting for Jesus!

By the way, are you following the African Catholic Bishop about breaking the celibacy chain imposed by Rome? What's your thought.

=topic=28181.msg709996#msg709996 date=1163871063:

If Dajjal comes, you will know that it is not a muslim or does he belong to Islam. We make supplication in Salah to Allah against Anti-Christ's trial, influence or followership. How is that possible that Muslim or Islam is this antichrist? Please let us be serious here!

@All,
How absurd is this; Islam/muslims do not believe in Christ yet makes supplication against the Anti-Christ? Is this not another case of deception to keep people in poverty of understanding? But we know that muslims are waiting for the 12th imam (i.e the Al-Mahdi) who will unite the whole world, rule the world, create peace in the middle east forcefully etc, as written in the quran. Yet, in the epistles of John, we are told that the 'spirit' of anti-christ (note!!!; the 'spirit' or followership of 'anti-christ') is already in the world; and secondly all these characteristics of the 12th Iman/Al-Mahdi as contained in the quran are just the characteristics of the Anti-Christ as described in the Book of Daniel, Isaiah, Revelations written hundreds of years before the existence of Islam, muhammed or quran.
In all things, get understanding.

Word.

Word.

@Havila: So that you know that I do not have any bhard feeling towards you, I will respond to your around the way response to me.
First, when I read your responses, I smile, sometimes laugh. I am not laughing at you, but laugh that you find it hard to come directly to me and at least since, i am older and you say you are a Yoruba, hopefully from noble family, then I just do not know if you expect me to drag myself on the floor to you. Well, it aint happening. But I am a Muslim and I copy the quality of my noble prophet (AS) in how he dealt and encourage us to deal with our neighbors. Because of this, the Yoruba in me is always dormant. My older son, Olayiwola is less than a decade your Junior, I think. I raise the them well. Thanks to God, good genes, excellent nurturing and mothering from their mother. Now, I yhink you now know that I do not hope any evil to you. Instead, I love you and I want you to go as high as you wish and that God grant you success. Even Davidylan, I hope he is alright where ever he is. I like good and hard challenges. In my business, it is a second nature, yet I will always keep my head firmly planted on my shoulders.

To your question about Dijjal (Antichrist) and Massiah (Isa Ibn Mariam (AS)): You should read Suratul Suratul Baqarah, Imran, Maidah, An Am, Anfal, Taubah, Anfal, Araf, Hud, Yunus, Yusuf, Ibrahiim, Israa, Mariam, Ambiyya, Saffat and many more. In the Qur'an God discusses Jesus and his mother more than Muhammad is. Aburo, part of the believe in Islam is Jesus as a prophet of his Lord in full quality as much as Muhammad (AS to both of them)

Just because we have a view that is different to what you have, does not mean that you are right and that we are wrong. Allah the Almighty, alone is the One Who knows who is right. Your crireria are not the same as ours.

By the say smile and say hello to your family. You should take good care of yourself and be of goodcheers. Stop getting so angry, so extremely and so quickly. And stop using the icons to much. they are very annoying in serious issues, which is what we find ourselves. Dijjal is an accursed personality in Islam. He is part of the army of Shaitan. WE pray against them: Oh All I seek refuge in You against the trial od Dijjal, and the trial of living and dying and the trial of the grave and protect me from Hell fire. Oh Allah I seek refuge in You against the Shaitan the accursed. These are just two samples of many prayers that we make. Every activity in the life of a muslim, man and woman, there is a guidance and rule. Aburo, I just want to express my fondness to you, do you see the common thread leading to the Comforter, leading you to all things and praising Jesus and even his mother and saying only what he had been commanded to do, not doing things out of his own will? Think about it before you respond.

@Olabowale,
Thanks for eventually coming directly after series of veiled references to us as 'dogs', 'lightweights' etc, to which we bear no grudge but stand firmly (with no compromise!) on the principles & doctrine of mercies through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Nobody expect anybody to drag himself or herself on the floor to another human being, but "Let God be TRUE, and all men be liars." God is one and only true God and Jesus is His only begotten Son who became flesh for the sake of mankind. God said it, I and my house believe it and the world WILL know it. I use the icons to express my moods because I am always in good mood and good cheer since "christ has overcome the world."
Thanks for your best wishes. Regards to your family and you're always in my prayers. Bye

After leaving this topic for a while, because I felt the comments posted on it was mainly missing the point, of those that wanted to look at this issue from another angle were immediately attacked, such as e.g. Didoflex.

Today, I was just reading "new post replying yours" and I was curious to know if someone said something without pointing fingers and condeming others. Someone that could see the other angle of this issue I was trying to make.

I am happy that Feelgood did I could not have explained it better than you did concerning how we should try and live our lifes as true Christians and leave the judging to God. May the Almighty God bless you for that and more eye openers. However, I don't think many posters have understood it but it does not matter. Those that want to hear and see will hear and see!!!!!!!